Top loading apparatus for a printer

Abstract

A top loading apparatus for use in a sheet feeding system for a printer is disclosed, wherein a finger which performs sheet loading is operated with a lever by user manipulation and is capable of elastic restoration. The apparatus comprises a lever rotatably mounted to a frame for moving at an angle of predetermined degree, torsion spring having its arms engagedly fixed to frame and lever, respectively, for supporting a restoration of level, a finger having its fixed arm rotatably and pivotally mounted to frame so that its free arm moves to load a sheet, and an elastic member which links frame and finger for allowing finger to be elastically restored when lever restores.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A top loading apparatus for use in a sheet feeding system for a printer having a frame, said apparatus comprising: a lever rotatably mounted on the frame for movement within a predetermined angular range from a first position to a second position, said lever comprising a body portion rotatably mounted to the frame by a pivot pin provided on the frame,   a pushing step integrally formed on said body portion for contacting and pushing said finger, and   a handle integrally formed with and extending protrudently from said body portion for enabling manual actuation;     a torsion spring having one arm fixed to the frame and another arm fixed to said lever for exerting a restoring force on said lever to return to said first position when said lever is moved manually to said second position and released;   a finger having a fixed end rotatably mounted to the frame and a free end movable within a predetermined angular range in response to movement of said lever for enabling sheet loading; and   a biasing member liking said finger to the frame and biasing said finger in a first position and for exerting a restoring force on said finger to return to said first position concurrent with the return of said lever to its first position.   
     
     
       2. A top loading apparatus for use in a sheet feeding system for a printer having a frame, said apparatus comprising: a lever rotatably mounted on the frame for movement within a predetermined angular range from a first position to a second position;   a torsion spring having one arm fixed to the frame and another arm fixed to said lever for exerting a restoring force on said lever to return to said first position when said lever is moved manually to said second position and released;   a finger having a fixed end rotatably mounted to the frame by a finger pivot pin provided on the frame and a free end movable within a predetermined angular range in response to movement of said lever for enabling sheet loading, wherein said finger comprises a pushing protrusion integrally formed adjacent to said fixed end for engaging said lever which is adapted to bear against said pushing protrusion to thereby move said free end; and   a biasing member linking said finger to the frame and biasing said finger in a first position and for exerting a restoring force on said finger to return to said first position concurrent with the return of said lever to its first position.